How VR storytelling is different

Researchers at Google News Lab conducted ethnographic research over a period of six months to study the ways in which people experience storytelling via Virtual Reality (VR) and how this particular method of storytelling distinguishes itself from other methods.

Researchers observed and interviewed 36 participants from various backgrounds in different cities who were both buyers and designers of VR.

Three main points concerning how people experience VR emerged from interviews:

VR as a form of storyliving rather than storytelling

The viewer’s ability to shapeshift and expand perspective through VR

VR’s ability to leave viewers with strong emotional experiences

In addition, researchers found three main aspects for why VR was appealing:

A storytelling experience that moves beyond immersion to enable participation

Use of the medium as a tool to seek out specic emotional states

The ability to experience a pure sense of presence and embody another entity

Furthermore, three additional themes were discovered when creating content for VR:

VR is effective when it’s focused on conveying an emotional experience

Journalism should play with perspective in new ways and create opportunities for participation

When constructing a story, content creators should consider the heightened vulnerability of viewers